Originally published: February 5, 2020 | Last updated: July 16, 2025
TL;DR: The Canada Will Registry is a national database where you register the location of your Will (not the Will itself) so your executor can find it after you die. Registration costs $40 and is included free for LegalWills.ca customers. If your Will cannot be found after death, the result is the same as dying without a Will, your estate is distributed under provincial intestacy laws regardless of what your Will said. Registering your Will is one of the most important steps you can take after signing it.
We receive calls almost daily from families in a difficult situation: a parent has died, they know a Will existed, but they cannot find it. If nobody can locate your Will after you die, the result is identical to dying without a Will. All the time and money invested in preparing the document counts for nothing. The Canada Will Registry exists to solve this problem.
What Is the Difference Between Will Registration and Probate Registration?
The different aspects create difficulties because people have trouble understanding their distinct characteristics. The probate courts in Canada register all Wills after death through the probate process. The local probate court serves as the main resource for people who want to find Wills of deceased persons.
The Canada Will Registry functions differently from other systems. The registration system operates before death because people can register their Will location during their lifetime which enables their executor to find it after death. Our complete guide about Will registration provides additional information about the registration process.
What Is the Canada Will Registry?
The Canada Will Registry operates as a national database which maintains records about your Will’s current storage location. It does not store your actual Will, it records:
- Your name and identifying information
- The date your Will was created
- Where the original Will is physically stored
- Contact information for your executor or lawyer
Your Will will become accessible to your executor and family members through their registry search after you pass away so they can find your document which will protect your final decisions.
Why Should I Register My Will?
Your Will becomes protected through registration which acts as an essential shield. The following circumstances show how people lose their Wills:
- Stored in an unknown location, a filing cabinet, drawer, or safe that family members are unaware of
- Safety deposit box, after death, accessing a safety deposit box can be extremely difficult without the box key and proper authorization
- With a lawyer who has retired or moved, if the law firm has closed, locating the stored Will can be challenging
- Destroyed accidentally, fire, flood, or moving can result in lost documents
The registry enables your family members to find your Will storage location through a basic search system when they need to find it.
How Do I Register My Will with the Canada Will Registry?
Registration is straightforward:
- Visit the Canada Will Registry website
- Complete the registration form with your personal details and Will information
- Specify where the original Will is stored
- Pay the registration fee ($40)
LegalWills.ca customers receive free Will registration with the Canada Will Registry through their service package. The system provides this service automatically when you create your Will.
Can I Store My Actual Will with the Registry?
No. The Canada Will Registry only records the location of your Will, it does not store the physical document. You must keep the original Will document in a location which provides both security and easy access. People can protect their belongings through two storage solutions which consist of a fireproof safe at home and a facility that offers fireproof safekeeping.
- With your executor
- With your lawyer (if applicable)
- Your safety deposit box will become useless because your executor will lack the Will which prevents them from opening the box.
Can I Make Copies of My Will?
Yes, you can make photocopies for reference, but only the original signed document is legally valid. Use blue ink to sign the original document because this method helps distinguish it from all photocopies. The estate administration process becomes more difficult because I refuse to sign photocopies since they produce multiple original documents.
The Canada Will Registry allows you to record copy locations but only the original Will document serves as proof for court authorization. Our guide about the Affidavit of Execution contains all the information you need to understand signing procedures.
How Much Does It Cost to Register My Will?
The Canada Will Registry requires a registration fee of $40. LegalWills.ca customers who create their Will at the website receive free registration services. The Will service costs $49.95 for a single Will and $99.95 for a complete estate plan.
How Does My Executor Search the Canada Will Registry?
Your executor or authorized family members need to provide death certificate and identification documents to access the Canada Will Registry after you pass away. The registry will then provide the registered location of your Will, allowing your executor to retrieve it and begin the estate administration process.
You must explain to your executor about your Will registration because they need to access the registry for their search. The LifeLocker service at LegalWills.ca allows your executor to access this information through their KeyHolder process.
This is why it is important to tell your executor that your Will is registered, they need to know to search the registry. The LifeLocker service at LegalWills.ca is another way to ensure your executor has access to this information through the KeyHolder process.
Tim Hewson is one of the founders of LegalWills.ca.
He has over 20 years of experience helping people to write their Will and other estate planning documents. He has been interviewed by many of the major news media outlets including CTV, Global News, The Toronto Star, and other leading Canadian publications. He has also contributed to a number of financial planning books.
Throughout his career, Tim has written extensively on the subject of Will writing and estate planning.
